Yarn conditioning and control apparatus for textile machines



Oct. 7, 1941. M. RICHTER YARN CONDITIONING AND CONTROL APPARATUS FOR-TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Dec 24, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

0d; 1941- M. RICHTER 2,258,421

I YARN CONDITIONING AND CONTROL APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE MACHINES FiledDec. 24, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 5,7 ATTORNEY.

M. RICHTER I 2,258,421

YARN CONDITIONING AND CONTROL APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Oct. 7,1941.

5 Shets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 24, 1957 IN VEN TOR I Iv a L'I HI I IIEI I III 3N w I M NM R Mm u I II V I i "Si" -I all I I I a III I I I M. RICHTER2,258,421

YARN CONDITIONING AND CONTROL APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Qct. 7,1941.

Filed Dec. 24, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F E F1. 5-- E F.I.E-ll- INVENTOR.

ATTORN Y.

l 3: E. r

Oct. 7, 1941. M.- RlC HTER 2,253,421

YARN CONDITIONING AND CONTROL APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Dec.24, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheets 11v VENTOR:

Patented Oct. 7, 1941:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE YARN CONDITIONING AND GONTBDL AP-.

PARATUS FORTEXTILE MACHINES Max Richter, West Reading, Pa., assignor toTextile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa... a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication December 24, 1937, Serial No. 181,639

9 Claims.

to clean them and to refill them. Generally,

cleaning the troughs required unthreading the 1 tension and moisteningmeans therein.

In the prior art tensioning devices the direction and distance of travelof the yarn through the troughs are 1imited,.whereby the degree ofregulation which may be effected in the'yarn tension is also limited.

Also, the maintenance of the liquid level in the troughs has been more,or less troublesome, particularly in individual troughs of amultisection machine having a plurality of these troughs individuallyassociated with the respective machine sections.

' Among the various suggestions for maintaining the levels uniform havebeen to employ troughs in liquid communicating relation to each otherand reservoirs of the inverted bottle type,-in refilling which thebottles are removed from position, carried to sources of liquid supp andreturned to position. These operations frequentlyresult in spilling theliquid over various parts of the machine, breaking the bottles, delaysin service and inother objectionable features.

An object of my invention is to provide a mois tening trough structurefor full-fashioned knitting machines arranged to facilitate the cleaning,of the troughs.

Another object is to provide a yarn treating device through which yarnis threaded, the device comprising a receptacle for yarn treating liquidand a unit for supporting yarn guiding elements within the receptacle,said unit being so arranged with respect to the receptacle as tofacilitate its removal and replacement in the desired position.

Another object is to provide guide means for effecting a combined yarntensioning and moistening effect.

Another object is to provide novel means for overcoming the aboveindicatedobjections in yarn treating and tensioning devices, and. in 55F 9 is a V w Similar to a Portion of Fig. 8,

novel adjustable maintaining the liquid level-and supply thereof.Another object is to provide novel valve means whereby severaloperations, ordinarily requiring individual attention as with areservoir of the inverted type above mentioned, may be effectedsimultaneously. 9

Another object of my invention is to provide a yarn treating devicethrough which yarn is threaded, the device comprising a'receptacle for ayarn treating liquid and a unit for supporting yarn controlling elementsin the receptacle, and means whereby the unit and the receptacle can beseparated without unthreading the yarn from the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel splash directing andguard means. means for the selective and detachable mounting of yamguides, and other features.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of theinvention shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention resides inthe novel elements, features of construction, and arrangement of partsin cooperative relationship as hereinafter more particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a multi section full-fashionedknitting machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the structure as viewed in Fig.1, on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a view, substantially to the scale of Fig. 2, of the structureof Figs. 1 and 2, as viewed cross-sectionally of the machine from theright end of Fig. 1, parts being omitted, parts being full lines, andparts being in dot-and-dash Fig. 4 is adetail perspective view ofasplash I guard embodied in the invention;

' tially in section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 enlarged relativethereto;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, parts being in elevation, takensubstantially along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6, enlarged relative thereto;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along: the line8-'-8 of Fig. 7;

drawn to the scale of Fig. 10, parts being broken away;

Fig. 12 is a vertical plane sectional view of a portion of the structureas viewed in Fig. 10, but with certain parts in difierent positions; and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the structure of Fig. 8; I

In the drawings and description, only those 'parts necessary to acomplete understanding of the invention have been set forth; furtherinformation as to the construction and operation of other elements notherein specifically pointed out, but which are usual and well known,being available in the pamphlet entitled Full Fashioned KnittingMachines, copyright 1920, and in the Reading full fashioned knittingmachine catalogues, copyright 1929 and 1935, published by theTextileMachine Works, Reading, Pennsylvania, and in a pamphlet entitledKnitting Machine Lectures, published in 1935 by the WyomissingPolytechnic Institute, Wyomissing, Pennsylvania.

Referring to Fig. 1, the parts of a multi-section fullfashioned knittingmachine therein shown are end frames I0, center frames I2, a back raill8, and a center bed I5. These parts are united as a usual rigid base orframework for supporting the operating parts of the machine. Gallows l8,Figs. 2 and 3, on the center frames I2, are connected longitudinallyofthe machine, as by a bar I9, and support a moistening box unit M, suchas shown in Patent No. 2,066,781, issued January 5, 1937, to Henry Janssen.

Troughs T, provided one for each knitting section of the machine, areconnected in liquid communicating series relation to each other byconduits 22, and suspended, as by brackets, 23

from another rod 24 on the gallows I8.

At the right hand end of the machine, as viewed from the rear in Figs. 1and 2, brackets 21 and 28 (Fig. 3) secured to the adjacent gallows I8,vertically adjustably support a rod 28 on which is mounted a reservoirdevice B.

As viewed in Fig. 3, the structure further comprises a front rail 32, acam shaft 33, a front bed 34, a needle lifting lever 38 on a shaft'38, abracket 42 pivotally mounted on the lifting lever 38 supporting aneedlebar assembly N, a sinker head assembly S, carrier rods R mountedin brackets, such as the bracket 43 on the center bed l5, yarn carriersor guide fingers 48 and 45,

and yarn cones or supply packages and 48 in the moistening boxes M.

'The cone 41 supplies yarn 49, such' as cotton yarn, to the carrier 45,which is a plating carrier, through an eyelet in the top of the unit Min which it is disposed. past a yarn guide rod 52 on portions 53 fgallows I8, through the trough T as hereinafter set forth, through atension ring 51 vertically floatingly disposed on the yarn around one ofa plurality of guides 58 that is supported on bracket arm portions 58 ofthe gallows I8, through a usual snapper 62, through an eyelet in areceptacle 66, to be hereinafter more particularly pointed out, and pasta yarn guide rod 63 on a bracketGQ.

Yarn 61 is fed, at high speed, through an eyelet in the top of the boxM, past a guide rod 68 on the bracket 53, through the trough T,constituting part of the invention, through a tension ring 69 on anotherof the guides 58, through a snapper 72, through an eyelet H in thereceptacle 88, and past a guide rod 13 in the bracket 64 to the carriert l.

Referring further to Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 13, each trough T comprises aplain oblong box-like receptacle 16, as of sheet metal, for thereception of a liquid, such as water. for maintenance at a level L, bythe reservoir device B, through nipples E5, the conduits 22, and aconduit 56.

As better seen in Fig. 13, a unit U, for readily removable directcontact telescopic fitting relation to the receptacle 18 in the upperpart of the latter, is generally of elongated rectangular substantiallyc-shape fitting the plan contour of the receptacle 7% having end members"I1 fitting the short inner sides {of the receptacle ends, and anintermediate lengthwise member 18 extending parallel to one of the longsides of the receptacle I in slightly spaced relation'thereto. Each ofthe members I1 is of substantially L-section (Fig. 7) having an uprightportion 19 and a horizontal portion 88 having end brace portions 90(Fig..13). The end members Tl each have clip portions 8| arranged sothat, when the unit U is lowered into the receptacle 18, the clipportions 8! will embrace the top edges of the receptacle It, and holdthe unit in place with its bottom above the bottom of the receptacle.Vertical sheet metal members 82 of channel section are welded, orotherwise secured, to the upright portions 19 of the members I7, andspaced from each other byv distances substantially equal to the widthsof the channels, whereby not only to provide a channel between the wallsof each member 82, but also to provide similar channels between certainof the members 82 for the selective reception of one or more cylindricalfloat elements 83, parallel to the longitudinal box sides, each ofitself being floatable and having its ends in channels formed by themembers 82 at opposite ends of the trough. The floats 83, as shown, areconstructed from cylindrical glass tubes each having both ends sealed,and at least one end 85 of polygonal cross section, or otherwiseconstructed, whereby the tube can float vertically in its end channels,but cannot have rotative movement by reason of the relation o thepolygonal or otherwise constructed fiat end or ends 85 to the channelmembers 82. Being disposed over the horizontal portions 80,

when the unit U is lifted from the receptacle 14,

the floats are lifted with it.

Sheet metal strips 84 of substantially Z-section (Fig. 7), secured tothe end members 11 across the tops of the channel members 82, havefingers 86 providing notches for the reception of yarn I guide rods 88.The fingers 86 have side projections 8'! (Figs. 8 and 9) constituting,slight constrictions against placing the rods 88 into, or removing themfrom, the notches, the fingers being of such resiliency, and theprojections being so with a substantially snap action past theprojections Bl. However, the feature operates such that the rods 88cannot readily be accidentally jarred or otherwise removed frompositions in the notches, or a rod cannot be lifted out of position Asloping platform as (Figs. as and 13) is provided on the intermediatemember 18 for the optional reception of a felt or felts 92, along thetop surface of one of which or between two of which the yarn 61 can passfor the removal of water from the yarn, or felt can be omitted and theyarn guided through space above the platform, as controlled by a guiderod 93 and one of a battery of eyelets 94. The rod 93 is supported on aledge 91 (Fig. 13) of the platform 89 between a portion 98 and a sidewall (Fig. 8) of the next adjacent channel member 82,. The felt 92 hasends 95 depending over the ends of the platform'89 to positions eitherabove or below the liquid level, and is held in place by. lugs 96projecting upwardly from the intermediate mem ber 18.

The eyelets 94, and similar eyelets 99, are mounted on metal strips I02and I03, respectively, the eyelets 99 being for leading yarns into thetrough T, and the eyelets 94 for leading the yarns out of the trough.Theseeyelets, although producible from any of various materials, are, inthis instance, of vitreous material, such as porcelain or glass. Eachstrip I02 and I03 is indicated' in this instance, as adapted to supportten of its respective eyelets, although here also, the' number may bevaried for different applications. Further, the strips I02 and I03 areprovided, adjacent to their ends, with spring clips I01 for readilyremovably embracing the top margins of the upright front and back wallsof the receptacle 14, this arrangement being more rigid, permanent andeffective than a former structure in which a single clip is used foreach eyelet. A splash guard I08 (Figs. 4, 6, '7 and 8), of metal havingsome resiliency and provided with return bent or crimped reinforcededges I09, is bowed or sprung in place, as shown, over the high speedyarn or yarns which may be passed through the trough, and which throwoff spray. The guard I08 is only of sufiicient width to adequately coverthe high speed yarns, and may be adjusted or shifted along thereceptacle to provide for placing these yarns in any desired positions.

In the operation of any of the troughs T, one or more of the rods 88 areadjusted parallel to the liquid level in any suitable arrangement in thenotches 81, and one or more of the floats 83 are adjusted parallel tothe liquid level by being placed in any selected of the channels formedby th members 82, whereby to obtain any one of various yarn tensionvalues, in combination with the yarn treating or moistening effect whichthe yarn receives-as it passes under the float or floats 83 and engagesthe latter in the liquid, which combined effect is maintainedsubstantially constant by maintaining the level L substantiallyconstant. course, would lower the float or floats and vary theyamtension- In the arrangement of Fig. 9, the last float 83 and the lastguide rod 88, to the right .of the Substantial lowering of this level,of

figure, are so arranged as to throw a length of the yarn backwardly onitself near its position of final departure from the liquid whereby toreduce, or prevent the extension of splash in the direction of departureof the yarn from the trough. r

The device B, see particularly'Figs. 10, 11 and I2, for maintaining theliquid'level L and the yarn tension constant, comprises a reservoir II2of th inverted bottle type held in place at the top, which is itsinverted bottom, by a bracket II4 secured to the rod 29 as by a setscrew, and

having branches or arms II1 over the reservoir, and fingers II8depending from the out'erends of the arms II1 about the periphery of thereservoir or bottle bottom to hold the reservoir: laterally in place.Springs H9 in recesses of the arms II1 act as yieldable cushions andbinding j means, assisting in preventing damage to. the

reservoir, when it is of glass, as shown, andtending to hold it inplace. A valve attachment V comprises a, metal body having a cup-likeportion I 22 for the reception of the mouth end I23 of the neck I2'4 ofthe bottle, or reservoir II2, a gasket I21, of rubber, cork felt, orother yielding material being provided between the cup I22 and the mouthI23, as a cushion and seal for the latter. A tube I28, constituting acontinuation of an air passage I29, is held in place in an uprighttubular projection I32 at the bottom of the cup I I22. A tubular elementI33, depending from the cup I22, provides a liquid feed passagewaybetween the reservoir H2 and a receptacle I34, and is, in effect, anextension, of reduced diameter, of the mouth I23 at approximately thelevel L of the liquid in the receptacle I34, which is connected to thetroughs T by the conduit 16; A

passageway I31 extends downwardly through the bottom of the cup I22 andlaterally to a liquid supply pipe I38 to which it is connected by a inthe position of Fig. 12, to'simultaneously connect the reservoir II2 tothe supply line I38, open the air passageway I29, and close the feedpassageway I33, and, at another time, when the handle I43 is in theposition of Figs. 10 and 11, to simultaneously disconnect the reservoirII2 from the supply line I38, close the air passageway I29, and open thefeed passageway I33. When the handle I43 is in the position of Fig. 12,-the structure allows air to escape from the bottle, and prevents liquidfrom feeding therefrom to the receptacle I34, when the bottle is beingrefilled through the supply passage I31. When the handle is in theposition of Figs. l0 and 11, the reservoir operates as an ordinarybottle, which, since its effective mouth at the lower end of the elementI33 is sealed by the liquidin the receptacle I34, will not allow theliquid to flow from the bottle until the level L recedesv from themouthto admit air. When the level L is as indicated in Fig. 10, thepressure of the'liquid in the reservoir and the atmospheric pressure onuid in a uniform manner,-irrespective of minor changes in the liquidlevel, since irrespective of this level, substantially the same lengthof yarn about the float is immersed at all times. In

- simple movement of the handle "I43.

other words, with the liquid level constant, the

perpendicular distance, between each float 83 and v the. guide rods 88,is maintained constant. This condition ensures engagement of unvaryinglengths of. the yarn on the peripheries of the floats, and therebyunvarying lengths below the liquid level, nd also maintains unvaryinglengths of the yarn on the peripheries of the rods 88, so that thereservoir device B, in maintaining the liquid level constant, thus has adefinite and direct yarn tension function, in addition to its yarntreating and other functions.

Since the reservoir holds a substantial amount of liquid, which isvisible at all times, it is easy for an operator to operate the devicewhen necessary or at times to suit his convenience, by a This featureavoids stopping the machine; disassembling any parts, spilling .theliquid or breaking the reservoir.

As a precaution, not likely to be called upon to operate, an overflowpipe I50 (Figs. 5, '7 and 1-3) is provided in each trough T, such that,if for any reason, a continuous supply of liquid should flow from thesupply line I38, through the reservoir B, and into the troughs T, itwill flow through the pipes I50 into the receptacle 66 (Figs. 3 and 5).The receptacle 66, one of which is provided for each machine section, issuspended from the gallows I8, as by hooks I52, and extends upwardly andforwardly of the'machi-ne under paths of the yarn and above certain ofthe machine mechanism over which the yarn extends. This arrangementprotects the mechanismagainst excess inoisturefrom the yarn.

The eyelets or yarn guides 65 and H, through which the yarns 49 and 67pass, respectively, thereby constitute the receptacle 66 both as yarnguide means and as means for collecting excess moisture. A conduit I54,shown as of V-section and suspended from the gallows I8, as by aconnector I55, extends along the machine to carry off excess moisturewhich it receives from an opening or openings I56 in each receptacle 66,and discharges through a drain conduit I5'I.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described by which Iobtain the above re sults, can be changed and modified in various'ways'without departing from the invention herein disclosed andhereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In combination in a yarn treating device, a receptacle for ayarn treating liquid, a plurality of elements in the receptacle forguiding and affecting the yarn in'said treatment, and means whereby thereceptacle may be readily entirely separated from said elements withoutrequiring rethreading of the yarn relative to the device, comprising aunit for supporting said elements, said unit having a portionsubstantially telescopically fitting innersides of the receptacleproviding for the removal of the unit and said elements from thereceptacle.

2. In a yarn moistening device for a full fashioned knitting machine, incombination, a rectangular container for a liquid yarn wetting agent, arectangular unit supported by said container comprising a frame arrangedto telescopically extend into the container and having yarnguidingelements detachabiy connected therewith, and means carried bysaid unit for supporting a plurality of longitudinally extendingfloats-within said container for guiding yarns through said liquid. 7

. 3. The combination with a yarn working steam means of an arrangementfor moistening yam going to said working means comprising containermeans for a moistening liquid,a group of parallel members movable fromone operative position /to another and arranged to guide said yarnbeneath said moistenin'g liquid, a second group of parallel membersmovable from one operative position to another arranged above saidmoistening liquid to receive the yarn from the members of said firstgroup, and means for holding said members in operative position in useproviding more recesses for the ends of said members than there aremembers, whereby said members may be shifted from one operating positionto another to change the tension on the yarn.

4. In combination in a yarn conditioning device, trough structureproviding for the reception of yarn and the passage of yarn from thetrough, means in the trough for controlling tension of the yarn andtreatment of the yarn by a liquid.

including tension means and float means afiect ing the yarn, areservoir, passageway means for liquid feeding from the reservoir to thetrough, means for connecting the reservoir to a supply pipe line fromaliquid source, air passageway means providing for escape of air whilesupplying the reservoir with liquid, and valve means for, at one time,connecting the reservoir to the supply line, opening the air passagewayand closing the feed passageway, and, at another time, disconnecting thereservoir from the supply line, closing the air passageway and openingthe feed passageway.

5. In combination in a yarn conditioning device, trough structureproviding for the reception of yarn and the passage of the yarn from thetrough, means in the trough for controlling tension of the yarn andimmersion of the yarn in a liquid including adjustable tension means andfloat means adjustable for operation in selected positions, a reservoir,passageway means for liquid feeding from, the reservoir to the trough,means for connecting the reservoir to a liquid supply pipe line, airpassageway means providing for escape of. air while supplying thereservoir with liquid, and a three-way valve for, at one time,connecting the reservoir to the supply line, opening the air passagewayand closing the feed passageway, and at another time, disconnecting thereservoir from the supply line, closing the air passageway and openingthe feed passageway.

6. A yarn conditioning device comprising in combination, a reservoir, astructure for exposing yarn to a liquid to effect treatment thereby, apassageway from the reservoir to the structure, means for connecting thereservoir to a liquid supply line, air passageway means providing forescape of air while supplying the reservoir with liquid, and athree-wayvalve for, at one time,

1 connecting the reservoir to the supply line, opening the airpassageway and closing the passageway from the reservoir to thestructure, and,

8. In combination in a yarn conditioning device, a receptacle, meansproviding a plurality of paths for yarns through a liquid in thereceptacle, and

' a splash guard means mounted for movement between positions overcertain of said paths independent of others.

9. In combination in a knitting machine having loop forming mechanismand yarn supply supporting means, of yarn moistening means.

MAX RICHTER.

